Extendable ornamental article

ABSTRACT

An extendable ornamental article comprises an open annular element having two ends that can be moved toward and away from each other along a circumferential direction; a guide element coupled to the annular element and configured to allow the ends to slide therein; a limit stop member configured to limit the movement of the two ends toward each other along the circumferential direction; the ornamental article is characterized in that the annular element can be elastically deformed in a reversible manner along the circumferential direction.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an ornamental article. In particular, theornamental article of the present invention falls within the field ofwearable jewelry articles, for example designed to be worn around thewrist or finger, More in detail, the ornamental article of the presentinvention is of extendable type to automatically fit the features of thewearer.

BACKGROUND ART

Wearable ornamental articles, for example designed to be worn around thewrist or finger, are known in the art. In particular, extendablebracelets which automatically fit the form of the wrist are known.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1 526 702 discloses an extendable braceletfor a wrist watch. In detail, the bracelet comprises two ends connectedto an elastic element, namely a pair of springs arranged in parallel.The elastic element is configured to bring the ends of the bracelet backclose together when they are moved away from each other upon wearing thewatch. The ends are designed to freely slide in a suitable housing toallow the bracelet to expand. The movement of the ends apart from eachother is limited by a chain that connects them together and constrainsthem to the housing.

Problem of the Prior Art

Disadvantageously, the pair of springs connected in parallel to the endsof the bracelet may be accidentally released from these ends, leading tomalfunction of the extendable bracelet.

Furthermore, the pair of springs can get stuck in the chain adjacent tothem, leading to malfunction of the extendable bracelet.

Object of the Invention

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide anextendable ornamental article that can obviate the aforementioned priorart drawbacks.

Specifically, it's an object of the present invention is to provide anextendable ornamental article that is more reliable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aforementioned technical purpose and objects are substantiallyfulfilled by an ornamental article that obviates the aforementionedprior art drawbacks,

In particular, the ornamental article of the present invention comprisesan open annular element having two ends that can be moved toward andaway from each other along a circumferential direction. The annularelement is elastically deformable in a reversible manner along thecircumferential direction, to allow the ornamental article to fit theform of the wrist or finger.

The ornamental article comprises a guide element configured to allow theends of the annular element to slide therein.

The guide element has a limit stop member configured to limit themovement of the ends toward each other, thereby preventing them fromoverlapping.

The annular element has a projection, at each end thereof, which isconfigured to abut against respective locking wall formed on the guideto limit the movement of the ends away from each other. By thisarrangement, the ends can be prevented from accidentally coming out ofthe guide element.

Advantageously, the ornamental article does not have elastic elements orany other mechanical element interposed between the ends, thus reducingthe risk of malfunction.

LIST OF DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention will resultmore clearly from the illustrative, non-limiting description of apreferred, non-exclusive embodiment of an ornamental article as shown inthe annexed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the ornamentalarticle of the present invention. The ornamental article is depicted ina first configuration in which the two ends of the annular element pressfrom opposite sides against the limit stop member;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the ornamentalarticle of the present invention. The ornamental article is depicted inthe first configuration in which the two ends of the annular element arepressed from opposite sides against the limit stop member;

FIG. 3 show's a perspective view of the first embodiment of theornamental article in a second configuration, in which the two ends arespaced apart from the limit stop member;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the second embodiment of theornamental article in the second configuration;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the cover element of the firstembodiment;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the cover element of the secondembodiment;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of the ornamentalarticle of the present invention. The ornamental article is depicted inthe first configuration;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the third embodiment of theornamental article of the present invention. The ornamental article isdepicted in the second configuration,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Even when not expressly stated, the individual features as describedwith reference to the particular embodiments shall be intended asauxiliary to and/or interchangeable with other features described withreference to other exemplary embodiments.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the present invention relates toan ornamental article 1.

The ornamental article I is preferably, but not exclusively, designed tobe worn around the wrist or finger.

Specifically, the ornamental article 1 of the present invention is ofextendable type and hence is configured to automatically fit the form ofthe wrist or finger.

The ornamental article 1 comprises an open annular element 2 having twoends 2 a. In particular, the ends 2 a of the annular element 2 can bemoved toward and away from each other along a circumferential directionC-C.

The annular element 2 is elastically deformable in a reversible manneralong the circumferential direction C-C. Therefore, the annular element2 is a mechanical member that elastically deformed under load and returnto initial position when the load is removed. Specifically, when theends 2 a of the annular element 2 are moved away from each other alongthe circumferential direction C-C, they tend to spontaneously movetoward the initial position.

The annular element 2 is preferably made of precious metals such asgold, steel or silver. Nevertheless, in alternative embodiments, theannular element may be made of any material that can be elasticallydeformed in a reversible manner.

The ornamental article 1 comprises a guide element 3 that is coupled toat least a portion of the annular element 2. In detail, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the guide element 3 is configured to be coupled with theportions of the annular element 2 at each end 2 a thereof.

The guide element 3 is configured to allow the ends 2 a of the annularelement 2 to slide therein. More in detail, the ends 2 a of the annularelement 2 slide in the guide element along the circumferential directionC-C and move toward or away from each other to adapt the ornamentalarticle 1 to the form of the wrist or finger.

The guide element 3 comprises a limit stop member 4 configured to limitthe movement of the ends 2 a toward each other along the circumferentialdirection C-C. The limit stop member 4 is designed to prevent the twoends 2 a from contacting each other, thereby avoiding the risk that theymight get stuck with each other and affect proper operation of theornamental article 1.

The ends 2 a of the annular element 2 move away from each other bysliding in the guide element 3 to switch the annular element 2 between afirst configuration and a second configuration. In the firstconfiguration, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ends 2 a of the annularelement 2 press from opposite sides against the limit stop member 4;conversely, in the second configuration, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, theends 2 a of the annular element 2 are spaced apart by the limit stopmember 4.

Preferably, the guide element 3 extends along, the circumferentialdirection C-C between two opposite guide ends 3 a. The limit stop member4 is rigidly linked to the guide element 3 and is interposed between theaforementioned guide ends 3 a. In a preferred embodiment, the limit stopmember 4 is centered along the circumferential direction C-C between thetwo guide ends 3 a.

Preferably, the limit stop member 4 comprises two abutment surfaces 4 aarranged. on opposite sides of the limit stop member 4. In detail, theabutment surfaces 4 a are arranged transverse to the circumferentialdirection C-C. In a preferred embodiment, the abutment surfaces 4 a aresubstantially perpendicular to the circumferential direction C-C. Eachend 2 a of the annular element 2 is configured to abut against thecorresponding abutment surface 4 a. Specifically, the ends 2 a of theannular element 2 abut against the abutment surfaces 4 a when theannular element 2 is in the first configuration.

Preferably, the guide element 3 comprises an opening 5 at each guide end3 a. In particular, the openings 5 are configured to allow the ends 2 aof the annular element 2 in the guide element 3 to slide along thecircumferential direction C-C. In a. preferred embodiment, the openings5 are oriented substantially perpendicular to the circumferentialdirection C-C and have a section that is complementary to that of theannular element 2.

Preferably, the guide element 3 comprises a locking wall 7 at eachopening 5. In detail, the locking walls 7 extend along a directiontransverse to the circumferential direction C-C. In a preferredembodiment, the locking walls 7 are substantially perpendicular to thecircumferential direction C-C, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Preferably,each end 2 a of the annular element 2 comprises a projection 6. Indetail, in a preferred embodiment, the projections 6 extend from theannular element 2 along a radial direction R-R perpendicular to thetangential direction C-C. Each projection is configured to abut againstthe corresponding locking wall 7 to limit the movement of the ends 2 aaway from each other along the circumferential direction C-C. As shownin FIGS. 1 and 2, as the projections 6 abut against the correspondinglocking walls 7, they limit the movement of the ends 2 a away from eachother, thereby preventing the ends 2 a of the annular element 2 fromcoming out.

In a preferred embodiment, the ornamental article 1 comprises a. coverelement 8. In detail, the cover element 8 is coupled to the guideelement 3 to close it at the top. More in detail, the cover element 8extends along the circumferential direction C-C between the two guideends 3 a, whereby the cover element is able to hide the movement of theends 2 a in the guide element 3.

Preferably, the cover element 8 is removably coupled to the guideelement 3. The possibility to remove the cover element 8 allowsmaintenance and cleaning of the guide element 3 and replacement of thecover element 8.

In detail, the cover element 8 comprises a main body 8 a that can beinserted between the guide ends 3 a. In a preferred embodiment, the mainbody 8 a of the cover element 8 extends along the circumferentialdirection C-C between the two guide ends 3 a. The main body 8 a of theguide element 3 has an inner surface 8 b that faces the guide element 3and an outer surface 8 c opposite to the inner surface 8 b. Inparticular, the outer surface 8 c is configured to accommodatedecorative elements such as precious stones or zircons. The outersurface 8 c of the cover element 8 may be worked manually or usingmachine tools, for aesthetic purposes.

More in detail, the cover element 8 comprises a pair of side walls 8 dprojecting out of the main body 8 a. Preferably, the pair of side walls3 extend along the circumferential direction C-C between the guide ends3 a.

In a preferred embodiment, the ornamental article I comprises a pair ofguides 9. The pair of guides 9 laterally constraints the portion of theannular element 2 that is coupled to the guide element 3; this portionof the annular element 2 is interposed between the guides 9. More indetail, the pair of guides 9 are configured to keep the ends 2 a of theannular element 2 aligned along the circumferential direction C-C.Explicitly, the pair of guides 9 prevents the ends 2 a of the annularelement 2 from moving transverse to the circumferential direction C-C asthey move toward or away from each other to adapt the ornamental article1 to the form of the wrist or finger.

In a first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the guide element 3comprises the pair of guides 9. In detail, the pair of guides 9 extendalong the circumferential direction C-C between the guide ends 3 a. Inthe first embodiment, the movement of the ends 2 a toward or away fromeach other is constrained along the circumferential direction C-C bothwhen the cover element 8 is coupled to the guide element 3, and when thecover element is removed from the guide element 3.

In a second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the cover element 8comprises the pair of guides 9. In detail, the pair of guides 9 extendalong the pair of side walls 8 c. In particular, each guide 9 extendsalong a corresponding side wall 8 c to guide the movement of the ends 2a of the annular element 2 toward and away from each other along thecircumferential direction C-C. In the second embodiment, the movement ofthe ends 2 a toward or away from each other is constrained along thecircumferential direction C-C when the cover element 8 is coupled to theguide element 3.

In a third embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, each guide 9 comprisesan upper half-guide 11 a associated with the cover element 8, and alower half-guide 11 b associated with the guide element 3. The upperhalf-guides 11 a extend along the side walls 8 d of the cover element,in detail along the circumferential direction C-C. The lower half-guides11 b extend between the guide ends 3 a along the circumferentialdirection C-C, in greater detail the lower half-guides 11 b connect theends 3 a of the guide element 3.

The upper and lower half-guides 11 a, 11 b constrain the portion of theannular element 2 coupled to the guide element 3 from opposite sides,thereby preventing the ends 2 a. from moving along an axial directionA-A.

The upper half-guides 11 a are able to face the lower half-guides 11 b.In detail, the upper and lower half-guides 11 a, 11 b are aligned alongthe axial direction A-A to form a gap therein extending along thecircumferential direction C-C.

In the third embodiment, each end 2 a comprises a pair of cylindricalappendages 10 which extend along the axial direction A-A on oppositesides of the annular element 2. As shown in FIG. 7, each cylindricalappendage 10 is configured to he interposed between the correspondingupper and lower half-guides 11 a, 11 b. More in detail, the cylindricalappendages 10 are configured to be interposed in the gap obtainedbetween the upper and lower half-guides 11 a, 11 b.

The cylindrical appendages 10 are able to slide in the correspondinghalf-guides 11 a, 11 b along the circumferential direction C-C to allowthe ends 2 a to move toward and away from each other.

The cylindrical appendages 10 interposed between the half-guides 11 a,11 b retain the ends 2 a of the annular element along the radialdirection R-R and the axial direction A-A, but allow them to move alongthe circumferential direction C-C. In other words, the cylindricalappendices 10 interposed between the half-guides 11 a, 11 b ensure thatthe ends 2 a of the annular element will move toward and away from eachother only along the circumferential direction C-C, and not along theaxial direction A-A and the radial direction R-R.

The upper and lower half-guides 11 a and 11 b, preferably but notnecessarily, can be released from the cover element 8 and the guideelement 3 respectively to allow replacement thereof in case of damage ormore simply for cleaning purposes.

In a preferred embodiment, each upper and lower half-guide 11 a, 11 bcomprises a pair of locking walls 7 to limit the movement of the ends 2a of the annular element 2 toward and away from each other along thecircumferential direction C-C. In detail, the locking walls 7 are placedon opposite sides of the cylindrical appendages 10, preferably close tothe guide ends 3 a. The cylindrical appendages 10 are configured to abutagainst the locking walls 7.

Preferably, as shown in FIG. 8, the limit stop member 4 comprises alower portion owe that extends from the guide element 3 toward the covermember 8, and an upper portion that extends from the cover element 8toward the guide element 3. Preferably, but not necessarily, the lowerand upper portions of the limit stop member 4 contact each other.

A skilled person may obviously envisage a number of equivalent changesto the above discussed variants, without departure from the scope asdefined by the appended claims.

1. An extendable ornamental article comprising: an open annular elementhaving two separate ends that can be moved toward and away from eachother along a circumferential direction; a guide element coupled to atleast one portion of the annular element and configured to allow the twoends of the annular element to slide therein, the guide element having alimit stop member configured to limit the movement of the two endstoward each other along the circumferential direction; wherein theannular element is an element that can be elastically deformed in areversible manner along the circumferential direction and is configuredto move between a first configuration, in which the two ends of theannular element press on opposite sides against the limit stop member,and a second configuration in which the two ends of the annular elementare spaced apart by means of the limit stop member.
 2. The ornamentalarticle as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the guide element extends alongthe circumferential direction between two opposite guide ends; the limitstop member is interposed between said guide ends and is rigidlyconnected to the guide element.
 3. The ornamental article as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the limit stop member comprises two abutment surfacesarranged on opposite sides of the limit stop member and orientedtransverse to the circumferential direction, each end of the annularelement being configured to abut against the corresponding abutmentsurface, when the annular element is in the first configuration.
 4. Theornamental article as claimed in claim 2, wherein the guide elementcomprises an opening at each guide end, the openings being configured toallow the ends of the annular element to slide in the guide elementalong the circumferential direction.
 5. The ornamental article asclaimed in claim 4, wherein: each end of the annular element comprises aprojection; the guide element comprises a locking wall at each opening,the locking wall extending in a direction transverse to thecircumferential direction, each projection is configured to abut againstthe corresponding locking wall to limit the movement of the ends of theannular element away from each other along the circumferentialdirection.
 6. The ornamental article as claimed claim 1, comprising acover element which is coupled with the guide element to close the guideelement at its top.
 7. The ornamental article as claimed in claim 6,wherein the cover element is removably coupled to the guide element. 8.The ornamental article as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cover elementcomprises: a main body which is adapted to fit between the guide ends,the main body having an inner surface that faces the guide element andan outer surface, opposite to the inner surface and configured toreceive decorative elements; a pair of side walls projecting out of themain body, the pair of side walls extending between the guide ends. 9.The ornamental article as claimed in claim 1, comprising a pair ofguides configured to keep the ends of the annular element aligned alongthe circumferential direction.
 10. The ornamental article as claimed inclaim 9, wherein the guide element comprises the pair of guides, thepair of guides extending between the guide ends along thecircumferential direction and being configured to guide the ends of theannular element toward and away from each other along thecircumferential direction.
 11. The ornamental article as claimed inclaim 6, comprising a pair of guides configured to keep the ends of theannular element aligned along the circumferential direction, wherein thecover element comprises the pair of guides, the pair of guides extendingalong the side walls and being configured to guide the ends of theannular element toward and away from each other along thecircumferential direction.
 12. The ornamental article as claimed inclaim 6, comprising a pair of guides configured to keep the ends of theannular element aligned along the circumferential direction, wherein:each guide comprises an upper half-guide associated with the coverelement and a lower half-guide associated with the guide element, theupper half-guides extending along the side walls of the cover element,the lower half-guides extending between the guide ends along thecircumferential direction, each upper half-guide being designed to faceand be aligned along an axial direction with the corresponding lowerhalf-guide; each end comprises a pair of cylindrical appendages eachconfigured to be interposed between the corresponding upper and lowerhalf-guides, the cylindrical appendages being adapted to slide in thehalf-guides along the circumferential direction to allow the ends tomove toward and away from each other.
 13. The ornamental article asclaimed in claim 12, wherein each upper and lower half-guide comprises apair of locking walls located on opposite sides of the cylindricalappendages, the cylindrical appendages being configured to abut thelocking walls to limit the movement of the ends of the annular elementaway from each other along the circumferential direction.